Display-dispenser for packets



July 12, 1966 G. c. SPARKS DISPLAY-DISPENSER FOR PACKETS Filed Nov. 18, 1964 INVENTOR.

5 /v a m w 6 B 4 A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,260,357 DISPLAY-DISPENSER FOR PACKETS George C. Sparks, 101 Rorer St., Erdenheim, Pa. Filed Nov. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 412,019 Claims. (Cl. 206-44.12)

This invention constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in my copending patent application Serial No. 384,188 filed July 21, 1964, and this application is a continuation-in-part thereof. This invention relates generally to packaging, and is especially concerned with a unique display-dispenser for packets.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for use in the distribution, dispaly and dispensing of pharmaceuticals, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is understood that the advantageous features of the instant invention are capable of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a display-dispenser for packets, wherein the displaydispenser and packets present an attractive whole, the

packets being effectively protected from damage and inadvertent removal, and wherein the packets may be quickly and easily removed for use, as required.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display-dispenser for packets having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is of extremely simple construction, durable and reliable throughout its useful life, and which can be economically manufactured and employed for usage in large quantities.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a package of the present invention, with one packet removed therefrom for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the package of FIG- URE 1, illustrating removal of a packet;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view showing the packet of FIGURE 1, and partly broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG- URE 5, illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the instant invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-5 thereof, the package is there generally designated 11 and includes a displaydispenser 11 and a plurality of contained packets 12.

The display-dispenser may be constructed to include a generally flat bottom wall 15 having a depressed laterally medial region 16. The laterally medial depressed region 16 extends forwardy and rearwardly between the forward and rear-ward edges of the bottom wall 15. At opposite lateral extremities of the bottom wall 15, upstanding therefrom, are a pair of side walls 17, and a back wall 18 upstands from the rear edge of the bottom wall 15 extending laterally between the rear edges of the side walls 17. The side walls 17 are each configured to provide a plurality of internal, inwardly facing grooves 20 superposed in spaced relation with respect to each other and each having its for-ward end open. The superposed, forwardly opening grooves 20 of one wall 17 are in respective lateral alignment with the corresponding grooves of the other side wall.

Extending across the upper edges of the side walls 17 and back wall 18 is a top wall 21. The forward or front edges of the bottom wall 15, side walls 17 and top wall 21 may be generally coplanar and provided with a peripherally extending, outstanding flange 22. In practice, it has been found advantageous to integrally fabricate the bottom wall 15, side walls 17, back wall 18, top wall 21 and flange 22 of a single sheet of plastic material, such as by suitable thermoforming techniques.

Extending across the front edges of bottom wall 15, side walls 17 and top wall 21 may be a front wall 25. The front wall may be formed of a sandwich construction, as of two layers, say of cardboard, or other suitable material. More particularly, the front wall 25 may include a forward layer 26 on the forward side of flange 22, and a rear layer 27 on the rear side of flange 22, the front and rear layers eflectively sandwiching therebetween the flange. The rear layer 27 may be formed with a central thru opening extending generally conformably about the periphery of bottom wall 15, side walls 17 and top wall 21; and, the front wall may be held in position by securement together of the front and back layers 26 and 27, as by adhesive 28 extending about the peripheral margin of the front-wall layer spaced outward from the flange 22, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. The adhesive 28 may be of thermoplastic or other suitable adhesive means.

Centrally of the front layer 26 of front wall 25 there is formed therein a thru opening or hole 30 generally conforming to the interior configuration of bottom wall 15, side walls 17 and top wall 21. The central thru opening or hole 30 thus communicates inward through the front wall 25 with the interior space within the bottom wall 15, side walls 17, back wall 18 and top wall 21.

More particularly, the thru opening 30 includes a lower bounding edge 31 extending generally along the bottom wall 15, an upper bounding edge 32 extending generally along the top Wall 21, and bounding side edges 33 extending generally along the side walls 17. Further, the front layer or sheet 26 of front wall 25 is formed with a plurality of generally V-shaped cutouts or notches 35 along the side edges 33 of opening 30. The notches 35 are each located in registry with a respective side-wall groove 20, the root, depth or vertex 36 of each generally V-shaped notch terminating laterally inwardly of the bottom wall of the respective aligned groove 20. This may be seen in FIGURE 5, the notch end 36 being located laterally inward of the bottom of groove 20. Further, the vertical spaces between superposed notches 35 serve to define of the front-wall sheet 26 a plurality of vertically spaced laterally inwardly extending tabs 37. The tabs 37 extend generally conformably in front of the portions of side walls 17 intermediate the grooves 20'.

The packets 12 may each include a generally flat, laterally elongate base 40, and a raised receptacle portion 41 centrally on the base. Within the receptacle portion 41 may be carried any desired articles of contents, such as pills 42. The receptacle portion 41 may be formed of plastic, or other suitable material, and be provided with a peripherally outstanding flange 43 having on its underside a backing sheet 44 extending across and in closing relation with the receptacle portion. The flange 43 and backing sheet 44 may combine to define the base 40. The base 40, being of generally ovaloid configuration, includes generally rounded marginal end edges 45, and generally straight, intermediate or marginal side edges 46.

In the assembled package, each packet 12 is passed rearwardly through the front-wall opening 32 with the marginal end edges 45 engaged in a laterally aligned pair of grooves 20, while one intermediate side marginal edge 46 extends forwardly through and beyond the front wall 25. Further, the lateral extent or length of each packet base 40 is such as to slidably engage in an aligned pair of grooves 20 with the rear marginal edge 46 abutting the back wall 18; but the lateral dimension between aligned notch roots or vertices 36 is less than the length of of a packet base 40. This is best seen in FIGURE 5. Hence, a packet base 40 may be engaged in receiving grooves 20 only by forcible entry through the respective registering notches 35. Conversely, a packet 12 may be removed forward through the front-wall opening 30 only by forcible withdrawal therethrough. In practice, the package may be assembled by application of the front wall 25 subsequent to insertion of the packets 12 in grooves 20, to obviate the requirement of forcible insertion.

In the assembled package, the forwardly extending marginal side edges 46 provide convenient finger pulls for removing a packet 12 through the front-wall opening 30. It will be apparent that the vertical spacing of groove 20 and registering notches 35 is sufficient to receive therebetween the raised receptacle portions 41; further, the front-wall tabs 37, intermediate the notches 35, serve to guide movement of the packets, and further combine with the raised receptacle portions 41 to effectively close the interior of the package and conceal the space therein.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the depressed bottom-wall portion 16 combines with the lower forward edge of front wall 25 to define a plane for stable resting engagement on a supporting surface 50.

In FIGURE 6 is shown a slightly modified embodiment wherein the front wall 25a is formed of a single layer or sheet, which may be adhesively secured, as at 28a directly to the forward side of flange 22a. In this manner the rear front-wall layer 27 may be eliminated.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a display-dispenser for packets which fully accomplish its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made Within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display-dispenser for packets, comprising a bottom wall; side walls upstanding from opposite sides of said bottom wall; a back wall upstanding from the back of said bottom wall extending between said side walls; a top wall extending across the top of said back and side walls; said side walls each having a plurality of inwardly facing forwardly opening superposed grooves in respective alignment with the grooves of the other side wall; a plurality of packets each extending between and having opposite edge margins engaged in a pair of aligned grooves; and a front wall extending across the front of said bottom, side and top walls; said front wall having a thru opening of a lateral dimension slightly less than V the lateral extent of said packets, to removably retain the latter in said grooves.

2. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 1, said bottom, side, back and top walls being integrally fabricated of sheet plastic; and a peripheral flange extending about the forward edges of said bottom, top and sidewalls; said front wall being carried by said flange.

3. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 2, said grooves being formed in the sheet plastic of said side walls.

4. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 1, said packets each including a generally fiat base and a centrally raised receiver on said base, said base defining said opposite edge margins and an intermediate edge margin extending forwardly through said front-wall opening for manual grasping.

5. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 4, in combination with a plurality of spaced tabs extending inwardly from the side edges of said front-wall opening intermediate said side-wall grooves, to guide said packets and conceal the space within said bottom, side and top walls.

6. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 1, said bottom wall and the lower edge of said front Wall defining a plane for stable engagement with a supporting surface.

7. A display-dispenser for packets, comprising bottom, side, back and top walls integrally fabricated of sheet plastic; said side walls each being formed to provide a plurality of inwardly facing forwardly opening superposed grooves in respective alignment with the grooves of the other side wall; a front wall extending across the front edges of said bottom, side and top walls; said front wall having a central opening communicating with the space within said bottom, side, back and top walls; said front wall being formed in opposite bounding margins of said central opening with a plurality of inwardly facing laterally aligned notches in respective registry with the forward openings of said grooves; and a plurality of packets each having its opposite end edges forcibly engaged through a pair of aligned notches for removable reception in a pair of aligned grooves.

8. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 7, said packets each including a generally fiat base, and a central raised receptacle portion on said base, said base defining said opposite end edges and an intermediate edge margin extending forwardly through said front-wall opening for manual grasping.

9. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 7, in combination with a peripheral outstanding flange extending about the forward edges of said bottom, side and top walls, and securing means securing said front wall to said flange.

10. A display-dispenser for packets, according to claim 9, said securing means comprising a pair of front-wall layers secured together in sandwiching relation with respect to said flange.

No references cited.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY-DISPENSER FOR PACKETS, COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL; SIDE WALLS UPSTANDING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BOTTOM WALL; A BACK WALL UPSTANDING FROM THE BACK OF SAID BOTTOM WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS; A TOP WALL EXTENDING ACROSS THE TOP OF SAID BACK AND SIDE WALLS; SAID SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY FACING FORWARDLY OPENING SUPERPOSED GROOVES IN RESPECTIVE ALIGNMENT WITH THE GROOVES OF THE OTHER SIDE WALL; A PLURALITY OF PACKETS EACH EXTENDING BETWEEN AND HAVING OPPOSITE EDGE MARGINS ENGAGED IN A PAIR OF ALIGNED GROOVES; AND A FRONT WALL EXTENDING ACROSS THE FRONT OF SAID BOTTOM, SIDE AND TOP WALLS; SAID FRONT WALL HAVING A THRU OPENING OF A LATERAL DIMENSION SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE LATERAL EXTENT OF SAID PACKETS, TO REMOVABLY RETAIN THE LATTER IN SAID GROOVES. 